| Author | Message | ||
     AC Donahue (Deoppressoliber) New Member Username: Deoppressoliber Post Number: 6 Registered: 07-2003 |
I **DO NOT** want to hear the rubber versus poly bushes debate!!!!!!! There, I said it. What I do want to see is comments from those crazy guys who have rejected the majority and purchased poly bushs for their Range Rover Classics in spite of the roaring den of the masses. My 1990 Rangie is primarily used for off-road events. I carry a ton of weight because of all the extra equipment on board. My Rangie is a Support And Recovery (SAR) vehicle with an entire tool set; spare parts; recovery equipment; etc. With that info in mind, I am considering both the Ironman kit and the Atlantic British "blue" kit. If you have had one of these kits on your Rangie, what was your experience? Are you happy with their performance? Of course, any description of failures would also be welcomed. If the system did fail, did you go with another poly system or back to full rubber? | ||
| AC Donahue (Deoppressoliber) New Member Username: Deoppressoliber Post Number: 8 Registered: 07-2003 |
Surely, there are some poly bush users out there. I need some insight here. C'mon guys! | ||
| Steve Cooper (Scrover) Senior Member Username: Scrover Post Number: 447 Registered: 09-2002 |
"I **DO NOT** want to hear the rubber versus poly bushes debate!!!!!!!" You said it. What did you expect? Lawyers, I tell ya! BTW, hope you picked a good SAR vehicle for the Rangie  Seriously, I switched to OME poly a year ago and I'm in the process of switching back to rubber: http://www.landroverstuff.com/images/omepos.jpg Harsh ride, less flex. Waste of money. Steve | ||
| AC Donahue (Deoppressoliber) New Member Username: Deoppressoliber Post Number: 9 Registered: 07-2003 |
How'd you figure out I was a liar, I mean lawyer? | ||
| steve herrod (Sherrod) Member Username: Sherrod Post Number: 45 Registered: 02-2003 |
I boutht the blue poly bush set from ab, had to spend over $300.00 in towing and replacement of the pan hard bushing because my poly bushings "crumbled" and fell out while on a trip from ga. to va. i dont blame ab but i do blame the poly's. i now think they are a waste of money. stick with the rubber. | ||
| Bill Ross (Billr) Member Username: Billr Post Number: 87 Registered: 11-2002 |
I put in a set of red Polybush last winter and have now put about 15K kms on them. So far no problems, but I don't do anything too extreme just the odd old logging road now and again. I will agree that they stiffen things up but my suspension was in such sad shape when I got the truck its really hard to tell. I've done the OME springs and shocks as well and I think all these things contribute to a tighter feel. All in all though its not alot different from my Disco with stock springs/bushing and Bilsteins. As far as polys crumbling, you have to wonder if the installation was as it should be. That is, both the mounting holes as well as the bolts, etc. all need to be cleaned up or renewed. Having a rough, rusty surface in contact with the bushing can be good. I've used polys in a lot of vehicles including my rally cars and have never had a problem with "crumbling". | ||
| steve herrod (Sherrod) Member Username: Sherrod Post Number: 47 Registered: 02-2003 |
the crumbling problem was a bad batch of bushings. it was only the pan hard set. ab was aware of the problem as others had the same experience. | ||
| eric johnson (Eric2) Member Username: Eric2 Post Number: 89 Registered: 05-2003 |
Blue polys installed around 150K; at 165K now and holding. Seems tight and fine to me, All the other ones are too hard. If I had put in reds or the OME yellows, I'd be changing 'em back , too. | ||
| Steve Cooper (Scrover) Senior Member Username: Scrover Post Number: 448 Registered: 09-2002 |
"How'd you figure out I was a liar, I mean lawyer?" http://www.discoweb.org/cgi-bin/discus/board-profile.cgi?action=view_profile&pro file=deoppressoliber-users Sherlock | ||
| Snowman (Snowman) Senior Member Username: Snowman Post Number: 518 Registered: 12-2002 |
I am assuming you are a defense lawyer, right? | ||
| AC Donahue (Deoppressoliber) New Member Username: Deoppressoliber Post Number: 10 Registered: 07-2003 |
No, I'm not a defense lawyer. I'm actually a "creditor's rights" lawyer -- i.e.; bill collector. My firm does consumer and commercial collections, as well as, subrogation claims for insurance carriers. I really appreciate all the feedback from everyone. I was really thinking of going with the Ironman polys, but if I go with polys at all, I will go with the Atlantic British blues. Given what I have read, however, I may be inclined to go back to original rubber. | ||
| Greg Hirst (Gregh) Senior Member Username: Gregh Post Number: 280 Registered: 10-2002 |
I have put 60k on a set of Bearmach poly's and have had no probs. Yes, they are firmer, but I went through 2 sets of genuine rubber ones (one the original install and one replacement set) in the first 60k. They rapidly fell apart each time with the requisite weird tire wear and bizarre handling and noises . My poly's are still in great shape and I'm happy with them. | ||
| eric johnson (Eric2) Member Username: Eric2 Post Number: 96 Registered: 05-2003 |
Hmmm...Bearmach must be going to a better class of suppliers these days. Still skeptical, though. | ||
| J. Michael McCaig (Lrover) New Member Username: Lrover Post Number: 20 Registered: 01-2003 |
I installed a set of red polys in my '79 2-door about five years ago I guess...right after they came out and that was the only color available. They were easy to install and have lasted very well and I do take the truck off-road alot. Not to do the debate thing but for some reason I think it flexes better than my '89 which has the rubber bushes. It may be the difference in springs as I am running OME mediums in the rear of the '79 and OME heavy duty springs in the rear of the '89. Anyway I don't regret using them, it has been a good experiment. Mike | ||
| Geoff 93 RRC (Geoff) Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 85 Registered: 11-2002 |
Have iron man (or something like that) from rover's north. No problems in about 18 mos. I did have to shave the panhard rod bushings so that they would move with the rod. Otherwise they were stuck in the axle/frame mounts which held them fixed. I figured this would lead to failure but not sure. I think the rubber ones deteriorate quickly from UV and are a problem here in Texas. OTOH I used the poly shock bushings that came in the iron man kit on our Trooper and they disintegrated after just a few miles probably from being overtightened, but the argument that the poly's can only take a relatively small amount of load has some merit. Overall I am happy with the poly's but agree with the other guys that the rubber bushings, particulary the radius arm ones, will preserve the stock travel much better and will be more durable under constant flex. Depends how much you off road. I wanted a tight steering feel. BTW, the suspension bolts loosen up fairly easily. Just a slight amount caused vibrations to appear for me. Use new locknuts and Locktite. | ||
| Gordon Turner (Gordo) New Member Username: Gordo Post Number: 19 Registered: 07-2003 |
Geoff I am running Iron mans also. About 3 yrs and no problems. The one piece ones are the ONLY way to go. I have heard that keeping the stock panhard rod bushings is a good idea. Supposedly it doesnt wander as bad. I had to air chisel my old bushings out so this was my best option. Ive probably put about 60k on them so far and no problems. They dont seem to limit articulation much if any. Gordo | ||
| Geoff 93 RRC (Geoff) Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 89 Registered: 11-2002 |
Thanks Gordo. I was initially surprised at the negative response on the polys since it seemed a couple of years ago everyone liked them. I had a heck of a time getting the old ones out too since my local garage would not touch them ("bushings are not removable" - thank God I only use the place for inspections). |
